Benizelos Mansion
The Benizelos Mansion in Plaka is the last surviving konaki (Ottoman-era mansion) in Athens and operates as a visitable monument and a “museum of itself”.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Benizelos Mansion on Adrianou Street in Plaka is the last surviving konaki in Athens and one of the few examples of such mansions preserved in southern Greece. It is considered the oldest house in the city and was the ancestral home of the Benizelos family, from which Saint Philothei the Athenian came.
It is a two-storey rectangular building measuring 9.30 m × 23.70 m, with a stone-built ground floor and a largely timber upper structure. It has two courtyards, north and south, an arcaded gallery on the ground floor and a wooden chagiati (gallery) on the upper floor, where two symmetrical rooms (ontades) are located, one winter room with a fireplace and one summer room. There is a well in the courtyard.
The monument was restored under the supervision of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens and the Ministry of Culture, co-financed by the ESPA programme. Today it operates as a visitable monument and a “museum of itself”: with explanatory material, video projections, audio applications and digital interactive exhibits, visitors learn about the house and the history of Athens and are free to move around the space.
Highlights
- The last surviving konaki in Athens
- Ancestral home of Saint Philothei the Athenian
- Arcaded gallery, chagiati and winter and summer rooms (ontades)
- Digital interactive exhibits, video projections and audio applications
- Courtyard with well, olive press and wine press
Permanent exhibition
- Μουσείο του εαυτού του – The mansion serves as a visitable monument, with explanatory material, video projections, audio applications and digital interactive exhibits on Ottoman Athens.
- Operated by
- Ιερά Αρχιεπισκοπή Αθηνών
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is also accessible to people with disabilities.
Kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
Families and individual visitors can play and learn through educational games and activities in the museum's digital interactive applications.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Μοναστηράκι (Μετρό)
Metro Line 1, Monastiraki station; Metro Lines 2 and 3, Syntagma station; tram, Syntagma stop; trolleybus lines 1, 2, 4, 5, 11 and 15 from Syntagma. Buses 025, 026 and 027 from Mitropoleos and 040, 165, X14, X95, A2, B2, A3, 856 and 227 from Syntagma.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
There are several private car parks in the area.
The museum discourages arrival by car, and parking on the surrounding streets is prohibited.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
The museum has an event space.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Educational programmes on the history of Athens, especially the Ottoman period, are offered for school and other organised groups. |
